Discussions of Having Nasal Surgery? Don't You Become an Empty Nose Victim! by Christopher Martin. It is available at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com. This winner of the Independent Publisher Book Award 2008, Bronze Medalist, offers an inspiring account of ENS, a critique of nasal surgery, and effective treatment strategies for ENS, which can effectively help you treat just about ANY nose or sinus problem.

Does this book pique your interest?

Christopher Martin

Welcome to the ENS Book Blog...

My name is Chris Martin and I am a school psychologist from Upstate New York and empty nose sufferer of 10 years. I would like to welcome you to the blog for discussing Having Nasal Surgery? Don't You Become An Empty Nose Victim! I wrote this book out of a desire to raise awareness of ENS to a new level and also in part because there were so few resources for ENS sufferers. While writing it, I learned that many of the strategies for treating ENS could actually be very beneficial for a host of nasal and sinus problems. This book is part testimonial and part informational. Who could benefit from this book? Treatment strategies in it could significantly help those with ENS, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, postnasal drip, acid reflux, and/or asthma (pretty much anyone with kleenex in the house). An unbiased review of medical literature could empower those considering nose or sinus surgery. The testimonial and scientific journey of ENS could inform ENT specialists and plastic surgeons; scientists studying regenerative medicine; and families and friends.

About Me

Monday, October 29, 2007

Having spent countless hours writing and revising my book, Having Nasal Surgery? Don't You Become An Empty Nose Victim! it was critical that I select the right publisher to publish my book, and I did - Cold Tree Press. I meticulously researched numerous publishers, contacting many. What impressed me about Cold Tree Press was that, unlike some publishers, Cold Tree did not appear out to make an extra buck, was realistic, and seemed genuinely interested in me as an author. This attitude was constant as the senior designer, Amanda Butler, worked tirelessly with me for 3 months to produce a book that was professional, striking and engaging, both on the cover and interior. Cold Tree Press displayed an attention to detail and concern for the author that is simply unsurpassed in this industry. I cannot thank Cold Tree enough for how pleased I am and hope other authors would trust this fine publisher with their book.

Saturday, October 27, 2007

I have been wanting to allow people to post on this blog and there is a simple way for you to do that: Click on the time link underneath this post and then click on post a comment. If you are having trouble doing that and have read or been reading my blog and have been touched by anything I have written, and would like to add some comments, email me at webmaster@emptynosesyndrome.org and put "blog post" in the subject line. As long as the comments are in good taste, I will post them to this blog. So I do hope to hear from you and hope this blog can be interactive.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

For whatever it is worth, I was looking through "hot new releases" on Amazon.com. At this time, the below link shows my book is #1 in this category (these are updated hourly, so it could change but, given the sales at Amazon, I anticipate my book will continue to stay #1 in this category until it becomes "old").

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

I was very pleased to learn that Amazon.com has lowered the price it is asking for my book. Amazon.com gets books at deep discounts - 50-60% off the retail price, so this giant company can easily afford to lower the price on books and it would be nice if the price on Amazon goes even lower. That's my goal. You see, I personally have been offering copies of my book on Amazon.com at a significant discount. Just go to the following link and click on 8 used or new and you can order a signed copy directly from me - for a very hard-to-beat discount: http://www.amazon.com/Having-Nasal-Surgery-Become-Victim/dp/1583851976/ref=sr_1_1/104-8078597-4322336?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1190430354&sr=1-1 I'm not sure how the pricing works at Amazon.com, but it is my hunch that the fact I have been offering my book at a significant discount has increased competition for Amazon.com, which encouraged this company to lower its price. Therefore, if you order directly from me, you might also be helping the price drop at Amazon.com in the future. And I want Amazon.com to offer an even lower price than it is currently offering.

While I believe Having Nasal Surgery? is worth every penny, it is my hope that people would be able to read it for a low cost - free if possible. That is why I am working so hard to see that this book gets into libraries. The more people who read it, the more people who will be informed and empowered, the more ENTs will learn of this book, recommend it to their patients and take empty nose syndrome seriously, and the more help us empty nose sufferers will ultimately receive from the medical community. And that will be a grand day - and hopefully not far off in the future.

Saturday, October 20, 2007

My greatest fear: Some people will be entering nasal or sinus surgery, either now or in the near future, and will come down with ENS as a result; and they won't intuitively know what their nasal problems are until much time (and good health) has passed.They will assume that complications are common after surgery but ENS is an unlikelihood. This misconception, however, could be very costly. One person remarked how they were undergoing a septoplasty, so it would not affect their turbinates. This person really needs to look at it differently because very often turbinates are pared down in size during a septoplasty. Regarding my book, Having Nasal Surgery? has been on the market for about 1.5 months so far and it seems, at times, that it is picking up steam, hitting as high as #2 in Otolaryngology on Amazon - at least according to the Amazon sales rank - while other times its sales rank climbs steadily worse.

Make no mistake, this book is fully devoted to raising awareness for empty nose syndrome, as it is what I suffer from (in addition to allergies and sinusitis), and it is the motivation behind writing this book. The primary criticisms of this book is that 1) I am not a doctor - and I admit I am not, but am an informed and empowered patient. However, my book is endorsed by great doctors. If this is the only criticism that can be levied against this book, then that criticism is honestly quite weak. I have 3 doctors who put their names behind this book and I suffer from empty nose so I have authority to talk on this topic, whereas almost all doctors do not personally suffer from ENS. Further, 2) some naively misperceive that its application is limited - to just nasal surgery candidates or empty nose sufferers - but I am ready to prove this latter claim wrong, dead wrong. Now I dare you. If you have sinusitis or allergies, but not empty nose syndrome, buy a copy and read it. This book can help you, too, and perhaps prevent you from ever becoming an ENS patient. And of course your purchase will also be supporting a very worthy cause. I guarantee there will be some helpful tips from my years of experience as an ENS patient who also suffers from sinusitis and allergies. Read one of my earlier posts on the blog: http://emptynosesyndrome.blogspot.com/2007/08/does-this-book-apply-to-you-you-bet.html On the other hand, the various ways in which people have praised this book include: that it's easy to read, thorough yet concise, very well-written, well-organized, professionally done, very informative, and strongly backed by research.

So where do I go from here? I keep plugging away, with fierce determination and persistence, and get ready for my book signing on November 10th, which is the first of many!

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Since the book has been published on August 30th, there have been two very special occurrences that have happened. These two happenings that have meant more to me than anything else with respect to the book are:

1) Midwest Book Review2) A Blessed Friendship

Midwest Book Review (http://www.midwestbookreview.org/) is considered a reliable source for reviewing books. This company tends to review books for small publishers. Publicist Karen Villanueva (http://www.authorcare.com/) did a one-hour phone consult with me and I must say she is the BEST publicist around. If you need a publicist to help you promote your book, you should seriously consider her. While I know there are many fine publicists, she is the most professional and personable one I have yet encountered. She has taken her time with me, corresponded with me considerably by email, and she seems to really care about my book. So during our one-hour phone consult, Karen informed me of just how prestigious and valuable Midwest Book Review is for its authors. Apparently, after a Midwest review is done, the review appears in a cd-rom (Thomson-Gale) and in book review databases (Lexus-Nexus and Goliath), which are published for academic, corporate and public library systems in various parts of the country. So having a book review done by Midwest, who do not charge the authors a penny to have the review done, you can have a review that is placed in libraries across the country. This book review therefore was quite meaningful for me because I know it will be in databases in libraries across the country. I want people to read the book for free, and libraries are a place they can get the book for free. Unfortunately, many libraries are on tight budgets, though, so please support your local library. And, if you think about it, tell them about my book. Getting Having Nasal Surgery? Don't You Become An Empty Nose Victim! in libraries is the most important and meaningful goal I have for my book. And what's the best part of having it reviewed by Midwest? Midwest receives around 1,500 books per month and review only about 1/3 of them. There is a current roster of 81 reviewers at Midwest Book Review, a company in business since 1976. And guess who did my review??The Editor-in-Chief, Jim Cox, himself!!!! In an email to me today, he remarked, "Thank you for your very kind words. They are much appreciated. Since I was the one who wrote the review...." He wrote the review!!! This made my day. If you haven't already, please read the review by Midwest Book Review (i.e., done by Jim Cox himself) below in the blog. And, if you are an author who has been published by a small press, submit your book for review to Midwest Book Review. It's been one of the best decisions I have done for my book.

The other very special happening occurred during the process of book promotion is a friendship that has been richly blessed already. One evening last month I received an email, out of the blue I might add, with the subject line that read "ENS Advocate!" Below in the email he remarked, "God bless" and left his phone number. The following day, I called him up by phone and we talked for more than an hour, and I prayed with him and he prayed for me. (This was the same day I received the 'proof' of my book in the mail.) We have been corresponding by phone and email for the past month and we always just have a great time talking and sharing our experiences - ENS and otherwise. And we have a lot in common. He has a great sense of humor and one thing we both have in common is our faith in Christ. And another thing we both have in common, is he also plans to write a book about his experiences with ENS in the coming years. In fact, he told me reading my book was like reading his own story. This friend informed me that, since our friendship began, he has not felt alone anymore and his health (and spirit) has improved considerably. I must say ditto, especially for the latter part - the improved spirit - for me. And another "coincidence" is that he lives 777 miles away. "7" is a number associated with perfection in the Bible. You know, I'm not quite sure these are coincidences! He and his wife plan to come visit my family and I sometime in the future. I can't wait for this day to happen. You see, I have received many very encouraging words on my book, some moving and really uplifting, and these are all really wonderful, but his friendship is far and away one of the most blessed happenings since I began writing the book. I cherish his friendship.

Friday, October 5, 2007

Midwest Book Review, a reputable reviewer and reliable source of information on books, has written a very favorable review of Having Nasal Surgery? Don't You Become An Empty Nose Victim! This is posted at //www.midwestbookreview.com/sbw/oct_07.htm#heal and is below:

The nose is an organ of the human body that can be afflicted with a number of serious ailments to health. These problems include such conditions as rhinosinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and empty nose syndrome (ENS). It has only been in recent years that physicians have come to understand and treat ENS. But there are still a great many doctors unfamiliar with this syndrome and the treatment options that sufferers have to choose from. An ENS sufferer himself, Christopher Martin has written a comprehensive and thoroughly 'reader friendly' introduction to what ENS is, what can be done about it, and what to be aware of in various treatment options in Having Nasal Surgery? Don't You Become An Empty Nose Victim! Christopher relates his own personal account of coping with ENS, offers an informed and informative evaluation of turbinate surgeries with respect to nasal conditions, provides an 'insider' look at the politics surrounding ENS within the medical community, and identifies the best treatments for ENS, many of which are also efficaciously applicable to sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, postnasal drip, GERD, and asthma. Invaluable reading for medical students, physicians, and non-specialist general readers, Having Nasal Surgery? is especially recommended for personal, professional, and community library Health & Medicine reference collections and reading lists.